I filled my time with another activity. I stained! It’s not painting, it’s staining. I should say “we” stained. We: meaning our whole family. Well, except for the cat. I don’t think he would’ve been much help, and besides, the cat doesn’t accept cash, but the children willingly accepted payment. So, we all stained the deck, the playset, the garden bench and the fence on Saturday and Sunday.

While I was staining the fence all I could think of was “The Karate Kid.” It’s all in the wrist you know.

You’d think a weekend of staining would cure my attachment to the paintbrush and the thrill of painting. It hasn’t. I have plans to paint my foyer. Just not this week. My hand and wrist are too sore.

And a big thanks to a reader for her comment in my last post that brought me to this cartoon.